Self-Conflict, Poem
THE ENTERTAINMENT.
IN fulſom dung, thou who a beaſt doſt here
Behold inclos'd, and pondering doſt appear,
The meaning to deſire, thy thoughts compoſe,
My Song the while ſhall thee the mind diſcloſe.
Of cleanlyeſt Creatures in this Ring enchas'd,
Thou one behold'ſt, by unkind hands there plac'd,
Of name the Ermin; one by nature bent▪
To be untainted with ought foul; now pent
In putrid Muck: behold, no pains diſpute
May 'ſcape procure, unleſs it will pollute
In filth its fur; but hating moſt a blot,
It faints, oppreſt with famine, on the Plot.
The choyce is ſharp: or it muſt dye, or ſee
That now its Coat in Mire defil'd muſt be;
Yet ſuch its mind, that in this huge diſmay,
Cold death it choſeth, and concludes its days▪
Where lo, though dying, with what wondrous care
It ſoftly ſinks, leſt it ſhould blot a hair?
There now it lies ſtretcht out upon the plain,
Grim death embracing▪ to be free of ſtain.
Thus far the Emblem, which …he mind diſplays
Of Jacobs▪ Joſeph, which his pious ways
And Conqueſt ſhews by him of luſt obtain'd,
Of luſt, ſo ſtrongly which in's Miſtreſs reign'd.
No… youthful dalliance reliſh'd with his mind,
He f…r more pleaſure in chaſt thoughts did find▪
Though carbonading luſt did him aſſail,
He ſtood unmov'd, nor could that luſt prevail.
A Lady he to him beholds inclin'd▪
With unchaſt love, young, fair, and rich; his mind▪
Yet he… reſiſts: ſhe …almy joys preſents,
He God prefers, her j…s as vice reſents.
She pleads: Alone, we're ſafe from prying ey….
But he returns: Yet God doth us deſcrye.
Then ſhe: My Lord abroad, none obvious ſtand
To croſs our loves. He then: But God's at hand
She adds: Youth prompts us to this am'rous play.
But he: Yet youth muſt wedlock rules obey.
She cryes, My fervent flames O quench, I frye.
Then he: To them no ſtranger may come nigh.
Yet ſhe: Slave to my will thou▪ …t bought to be.
But not to ſin, returns he; there I'm free.
By reaſon f…yl'd, ſhe threatens plagues unkind.
But he makes clear: Nought hurts a peaceful mind.
She ſtorms, but he's compos'd, threats doth abide
And curſes from her; prays, and ſteps aſide,
Till ſhe lays laſtly hold. Skill'd in this fight,
He then his cloak lets go, and flees her …ight.
Wonder of men! 'twas Joſeph, in thy prime
Of youthful days; the ve…ure of thy …ime,
When thou thy fleſh ſubd…'dſt. In ways of truth
O guide! and pattern rare for tender youth!
Aſſiſt my numbers, let my flowing Verſe,
As is his due, his ſolid praiſe reherſe,
If that can be: And thou thus Laureate,
Vouchſafe, though ſlender, to commemorate
Thy victories renown, chaſt Boy, that we
May read with wonder, and thy followers be.
But Zoilus is come; methinks I hear
His murmuring Sons at our bleſt Joſeph jear.
Whom they a mind devoyd of Spirit name,
A vein of blood, a torch of ſpriteful flame.
But ſure abus'd in reaſonings you appear,
O ſons of error: better reaſon hear.
Is freedom yours? 'tis then an eaſie caſe
In times when lewd, to run a ſinful race.
Nor is it hard when youthful eyes eſpye
A beauty, ſtrait in luſtful flames to frye.
For lo, how facile 'tis to looſe the rein
That curbs the fleſh, that doth its luſt reſtrain.
Nor eaſie leſs, when pregnant ſhowrs do flow
To you of wealth, then earthly ſoul'd to grow.
If love, if honour wait on you, if gain;
Such things with pleaſure you can entertain.
But when the fleſh with overmatching power,
Storms on the Soul like a tempeſtuous ſhow'r;
That manly breaſt that ſtands, that will not yield,
A Champion worthy is to Lord the field.
Vain worldly men thoſe Spirits valiant praiſe,
That Armies rout, that walled Cities raſe:
But in deeds truly brave, none higher riſe,
Than ſuch a mind who its own luſts denies.
Let then Cimmerian ignorance revile,
Whilſt virtue triumphs with a peaceful ſmile.
But thou, if young, let this example thee,
So chaſt, ſo virtuous, ſo Divine to be.